The number of people in Northern Ireland seeking help to stop viewing child abuse images has risen by 40%, figures suggest.

Data from the Stop it Now! campaign, run by child protection charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, showed 36,443 people contacted the scheme in 2017.

This was up from the 26,089 potential offenders who sought help in the previous 12 months.

Most came through the campaign's website, although 2,251 people called the anonymous Stop it Now! Helpline with concerns about their own or someone else's behaviour.

National Police Chiefs' Council lead for child protection, Chief Constable Simon Bailey said: "Police forces are arresting more offenders who view or share sexual images of children online and protecting more children than ever before.

"However child sexual abuse cannot be countered by enforcement alone.

"It requires schools and parents to educate children to ensure they stay safe, as well as for technology and social media companies to take their responsibilities seriously in protecting young people online.

"Alongside the important role for education in raising awareness and a greater role for technology companies in child protection, it is also crucial that offenders who are yet to be arrested are given the opportunity to seek help."

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Tom Squire, clinical manager at The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, said: "Stop it Now! is determined to protect children from abuse and the devastating impact of having their image repeatedly shared across the internet.

"The best way to do this is to deter people from looking at these images in the first place, and to get those who are looking to stop.

"When you make people aware that help is available to stop, people will take up that offer of help.

"We work with many men arrested after downloading huge numbers of abusive images of children.

"Nearly all of them say they wish they had known sooner about the help that's available to stop."

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